Dr. Mark Emmert
“College Sports: A Pathway to Opportunity”
Thursday, May 4, 2017
3:15 p.m.
“This lecture series will give prominent leaders in the political and public service sectors the opportunity to share their experiences and insight on timely key topics,” said ˿Ƶ President Gary A. Olson. “By featuring speakers diverse in thought, perspective and leadership style, we will be fostering important discussions on varied issues impacting our region and country.”
2016
November 17, 2016
Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark will talk about the historic growth of major film production in Western New York as ˿Ƶ’s Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series speaker at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Alumni Lounge. The lecture is free and open to the public.
October 14, 2016
Speaker of the New York State Assembly Carl Heastie will share his vision on creating education, training and employment pathways for the state’s youth as ˿Ƶ’s Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series speaker at 3:30 p.m. Oct. 20 in the John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Alumni Lounge. The event is free and open to the public
October 7, 2016
Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown, chairman of the New York State Democratic Committee, will discuss the upcoming presidential election as ˿Ƶ’s Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series speaker at 4:30 p.m. Oct. 17 in the John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Alumni Lounge. The event is free and open to the public.
September 9, 2016
U.S. Attorney for the Western District of New York William J. Hochul, Jr. discussed international terrorism and other threats to the country as ˿Ƶ’s Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series speaker at 4:30 p.m. Sept. 20 in the John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Alumni Lounge. The event is free and open to the public.
May 9, 2016
John Catsimatidis shared his life journey from emigrating to the United States from the Greek island of Nisyros to becoming a self-made billionaire business owner as featured speaker at the ˿Ƶ Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series held on May 9.
March 3, 2016
During a highly anticipated presidential campaign week, New York State Republican Party Chairman Edward F. Cox pointed to a nation ready for change at the center of the current political movement during his discussion at the ˿Ƶ Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series.
January 8, 2016
Several leaders from the Buffalo Niagara region engaged in an insightful dialog on race and higher education at a panel discussion held Jan. 8 as part of the ˿Ƶ Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series.
The discussion, which was moderated by Dr. Isiah Marshall, Jr., ˿Ƶ associate professor of social work and master of social work program director, included panelists Buffalo Mayor Byron W. Brown; Dr. Catherine Fisher Collins of the New York State Education Department Board of Regents; Dr. Gary A. Olson, president of ˿Ƶ; Dr. Katherine S. Conway-Turner, president of SUNY Buffalo State; and Dr. Cynthia Zane, president of Hilbert College.
2015
December 7, 2015
The U.S.-Iran nuclear deal aimed at limiting Iran’s nuclear production capability in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions was assessed by David S. Jonas, an international expert on nuclear nonproliferation, as featured speaker in the ˿Ƶ Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series.
October 22, 2015
New York State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia emphasized that more collaborations between schools and higher education institutions are essential to advancing the state’s education system at a discussion held Oct. 22 at ˿Ƶ.
September 22, 2015
U.S. Congressman Chris Gibson of New York, a decorated Army war veteran and member of the House Armed Services Committee, shared his vision and proposed strategy to counter national security threats, at a ˿Ƶ Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series event held on Sept. 22.
May 29, 2015
Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul cited Buffalo’s remarkable economic resurgence as a model for how to transform a city into a vibrant, growing urban area as part of her discussion at the ˿Ƶ Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series event held on May 29.
2014
October 7, 2014
In a conversational question and answer format, State Senator Michael Ranzenhofer and State Assemblyman Raymond Walter each gave their own perspective on a range of statewide and Western New York topics, including economic development and higher education.
September 2, 2014
Buffalo’s economic growth over the past decade was described as transformational by Mayor Byron W. Brown as he pointed to the city continuing its positive momentum with a strong, workable plan at a recent lecture held at ˿Ƶ.
July 25, 2014
Ambassador Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, consul general of India in New York, presented valuable insight into the country’s impressive emergence as an independent nation and underscored the importance of strong U.S.-India relations in the ˿Ƶ Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series event held on July 25.
May 13, 2014
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida, a leader on women's and children's issues, addressed national political and policy issues and her own personal and professional story on May 13 in ˿Ƶ’s John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Alumni Lounge.
March 10, 2014
House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, a leading voice on the economy and job creation, spoke at 2 p.m. March 10 in ˿Ƶ’s University John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Social Room as part of the University’s newly established Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series. He was introduced by Congressman Chris Collins.
February 24, 2014
Higgins delivered the inaugural lecture, "From the Ground Up: Building a Stronger Western New York and Nation," at 7 p.m. on Feb. 24 in the University’s John R. Yurtchuk Student Center Social Room.